Browsing Tag

Warpaint

OFFtrack – Too Dumb for Your Guns: Trippy Ethereal Alt-Electronica

Posted on 12 July 2021

‘Too Dumb for Your Guns’ is the electrifyingly ethereal latest trip-hop single from the mesmerising alternative artist OFFtrack. The Bahrain-based band formed in 2019 to rapturous acclaim before COVID-19 called time on the live music scene.

Their love of post-punk and trip-hop classics worked its way into the latest release which captures the disjointedness we feel trying to connect in anything in our dystopic world through trippy rhythms pulled together with dreamy guitar melodies, cutting overdriven shoegazey discord and glassy synths.

The single questions the ulterior motives of those driving society to destruction through seductively demure vocals and strikingly dark meta poetry serving as lyricism.

Any fans of Warpaint, Policia and Portishead will want to make room on their radar for OFFtrack.

Too Dumb for Your Guns is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

WALLIS featuring the Schriver Sisters – Another Day: Film Noir Dance Pop

Posted on 26 June 2021

With one viral hit under her belt, up and coming artist WALLIS is trying for another with the release of her latest single, Another Day, featuring the Schriver sisters.

The Philadelphia-hailing 16-year-old singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pulled in some big names for Another Day. With Steve Sigmund on Trombone (Ray Charles), Julio Hernandez (Barry Gibbs) on bass and the Grammy-award-winning engineer Carlos Alvarez working on the alt-indie dance-pop track, it comes as no surprise that it is just as mesmerising as a Warpaint or Black Honey single.

With a film noir feel to the verses, and plenty of soulful funk thrown in for good measure if WALLS had reworked Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me it would have unravelled in a similarly vibrant and utterly ingenious way as Another Day.

Another Day is due for release on June 25th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Emma Hunter formidably extended the conversation around domestic violence with ‘Here I Go’

Posted on 13 February 2021

Singer-songwriter, Emma Hunter, has been the voice of popular Oxford-based bands such as AmberState and the Halycons, and since 2019, she’s worked alongside drummer, Tom Bruce, putting her own formidable spin on alt-indie-pop.

With vocals which pull you in with the same strength as Florence Welch’s or Marina and the Diamonds’ coalescing with instrumentals which veer from mainstream archetypes while retaining all of the commercial potential, it’s impossible not to become consumed by her viscerally poignant releases. The single which caught our attention and refused to let go was her latest single, ‘Here I Go’, which demonstrates how seriously Emma Hunter takes her responsibility of creating light from the dark.

Here I Go artfully extended the conversation around domestic violence by a perspective-shifting length. It exhibited the weakness of perpetrators compared to that of survivors who have been psychologically crushed or physically abused by ‘romantic’ partners. For the first time as I watched the nuanced video unfold, I contemplated the unlikelihood of abusers being able to endure what a victim does, concluding that intimidation through power is the ultimate form of weakness.

With lead guitar tones which insidiously creep throughout the soundscape, the trepidation leaves you transfixed from start to finish, it’s a track which keeps your breath bated until long after the prelude. I honestly couldn’t have more respect or admiration for Emma Hunter and her classy controversial sound.

The official video to Here I Go is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sonarus – On My Way: Multiculturally Eclectic EDM

Posted on 26 December 2020

Dundee, Scotland-hailing artist, Sonarus brought her multicultural and multi-ethnic roots to her latest mesmerising single, ‘On My Way’. With elements of Afro Tech, Progressive Tech and Trance all breathing life into the galvanising mix, it’s as euphoric as it is intricately ingenious.

As trippy beats indulgently jar against arrestive synth-led melodies, Sonarus paints right across the tonal palette with cold chilling tones brushing up against transcendently light entrancing beats. Yet, the true hypnotic essence of On My Way lies within Sonarus’ smoothly evocative vocal timbre which is as close to an aural cuddle as you’re going to get.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Shiny Toy Guns and Warpaint met in the middle, you’ll get an idea of what is in store when you hit play on this relentlessly enrapturing release.

You can check out On My Way for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Saphira takes us for an electronic ride down the Apocalytic Highway

Posted on 30 November 2020

Electronic Alternative Pop comes in many forms, from the wistful and ethereal to the heavy and dance-oriented. Sitting somewhere in the middle is this, the new single from ‘singer-songwriter from another dimension’ Saphira.

Taking in themes around impending environmental disaster, and humans apparent masochistic delight in letting the planet burn in the pursuit of a quick buck, ‘Apocalyptic Highway’ is a charming, ironic little satire set over a sparse melody of chimes, swirls, and swoops. Saphira’s vocal is mercurial, wandering between poetic spoken word and whimsical high-register singing, somewhere between Warpaint, Bjork, and the Cardigans. As much performance art as electronica, ‘Apocalyptic Highway’ is out now on all major streaming platforms.

Hear ‘Apocalyptic Highway’ on Spotify. See the video on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Elodie Reverie is set to release her stylishly unforgettable latest single “Under the Radar”

Posted on 28 July 2020

US singer, songwriter and producer Elodie Reverie is set to release her stylishly unforgettable latest Alt Pop single Under the Radar.

There is more than distinction within Elodie Reverie’s vocals. There is a captivating level of mesmerism which leaves you hooked from the very first vocal note which hits the smooth and sultry hit.

Comparing her style to another Pop artist seems an insult to her authentic yet organic sound. Yet, it’s safe to say any fans of Warpaint and London Grammar will want Elodie Reverie’s moody yet soulfully compelling voice on their playlists.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out Under the Radar for yourselves. In the meantime, you can head on over to the artist’s SoundCloud where you’ll be able to find her earlier releases.

Stay posted on upcoming releases by following Elodie Reverie via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A&R Factory Present: Zone Out

Posted on 27 April 2016

Melbourne two-piece Zone Out have emerged with a second taste of their forthcoming LP ‘Transience’.

New single ‘Breakdown’ employs much the same approach that saw their debut release ‘Inside’ so well received (and already rubbing shoulders on-stage with the likes of Homeshake, Sonny & the Sunsets and Lost Animal, despite their relatively recent conception).

Masterfully blending elements of new-wave, dream-pop and electronica, ‘Breakdown’ basks in it’s own rich, broody soundscape, bringing to mind ‘80s synth-pop syndicate Berlin.

Originally forming in 2012, the Melbourne-based ex-shoegazers dispersed in 2014 following a string of critically acclaimed independent releases.

2015 has seen one-half of the band’s original lineup in Ashley Bundang (Totally Mild, Sui Zhen, Ciggie Witch) and Dove Bailey (Scotdrakula) re-assemble with a new direction, though very much the same manifesto.

Despite boasting a brighter, more pop-inflected sound, Zone Out are no less fittingly titled. The new-look outfit released their debut 7” single ‘Inside’ late last year, chanelling ʻdream-popʼ at its slow-burning best – fragile in nature, yet full-bodied in sound. Each strum of the guitar and croon of the voice simply drips with reverb and bursts with charm.

Bundang’s lilting vocals paired with Bailey’s jangly guitar-interplay on ‘So Bright’ recall Teen Dream era Beach House , whilst a syncopated beat and swirling synth pad draw stronger comparisons to their more electronica-influenced neighbours, Yumi Zouma .